Adjustable connection unit



United States Patent Ofitiee 3,22,71 Patented Feb. 27, 1962 3,022,871 ADJUSTAELE CUNNEQTIUN UNl'l Van Rensselaer P. Sane, 1751 gt. Paul St, Baltimore 2, Md.

Filed June 2, 1959, Ser. No. 817,522 3 Claims. (Cl. 189-496) This invention relates to an adjustable connection unit for use in the erection of structural steel beams.

The present connection unit is an improvement on the adjustable unit disclosed in my prior Patent No. 2,624,429, issued January 6, 1953, and the unit disclosed in my prior application Serial No. 799,349, filed March 13, 1959.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable unit composed of few parts which may be easily assembled and which is capable of adjustment in a lateral, diagonal and longitudinal direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the beam to which it is applied.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a pair of steel beams showing the improved connection unit applied thereto,

FIG. 2 is a section taken on line 22 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a section taken on line 33 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the adjustable member of the unit with the parts in separate relation.

Referring to the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration, the preferred form of the invention is shown, the numeral 5 denotes, generally, an angle bracket adjustably mounted on the face of a first structural member 6 adjacent its end having a depending tongue 7 for engagement with a yoke 8 fixedly mounted on the face of a second structural member 9 disposed at right angles to the member 6. The tongue 7 and yoke 3 are of the same construction as the tongue and yoke disclosed in my prior application referred to above.

The angle bracket and yoke are applied to the steel beam when fabricating the beam at the mill and since certain tolerances are allowed in fabrication of steel beams it has been found that when erecting the beams in the field the angle brackets and connecting yokes are not always in alignment to permit proper seating of the flanges in the yokes.

In order to permit adjustment of the angle bracket 5 in a lateral, diagonal and longitudinal direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the beam to which the bracket is attached, the flange ill or" the bracket whose medial body portion is provided with a rectangular opening 11 having a continuous internal rib 12 of reduced depth or thickness as compared with the thickness of the body of the flange itself and projecting inwardly from the wall of the opening to slidably engage in a groove 13 formed in the edge of a rectangular insert block 1 3. The block 14 is of less width and length then the opening 11 and the grooves 13 is of such depth to permit limited movement of the bracket in a lateral, diagonal or longitudinal direction with respect to the insert block which is aflixed to the steel beam by a plug weld 14' in the central opening 15 of the block. The block is divided along the line 16 in the plane of the groove to form two matching 5 sections 17 and 18 to permit assembly of the insert in the opening 11 and then the sections are welded together. In use, the connection unit is applied to the beam at the mill by first inserting the sections 17 and 18 of the block 14 in opposite ends of the opening 11 and then welding the sections together. The insert block with the bracket attached is then attached to the beam by the plug weld 14 in the pocket formed by the registering openings 15 and 18 in the matching bosses on the sections 1.7 and 18. By reason of the rib and groove connection between the bracket and insert block, the bracket is free to move laterally, diagonally or longitudinally of the beam to position the flange 7 of the bracket for proper engagement with the yoke 8 to establish connection between the beams or similar structural members 6 and 9.

The effect of welding the block 14 to the first structural member 6 is to enable the flange 14b to slide lengthwise transversely, diagonally and also to pivot within the limits of the space between the bottom of groove 13 and and the edge of rib 12.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herein shown and described is a preferred example of the same and changes in the shape, size and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A connection unit for joining right angularly disposed first and second structural members and effecting relative adjustment between said members during their erection to provide the framework of a building, said unit comprising, in combination, a yoke fixed to the second member, and an angle bracket including a right angularly disposed tongue engaging with said yoke, and a flange rigid with said tongue and disposed at right angles thereto, and means attaching said flange to said first member to slide longitudinally, laterally, diagonally and also pivot in a plane parallel to the face of said first member to which the flange is attached.

2. A connection unit for joining right angularly disposed first and second structural members and effecting relative adjustment between said members during their erection to provide the frame work of a building, said unit comprising, in combination, a yoke fixed to the second member and an angle bracket including a tongue engaging with said yoke and a flange having an opening and a rib of reduced thickness around the periphery of said opening, an insert block whose external dimensions are greater than the dimensions of the opening as defined by the rib but less than the external periphery of said rib and a weld in said opening connecting the block to the said first member and securing the block to said member, whereby, the flange may be moved in a flat plane at right angles to said second member within the limits defined by the relative length of the rib in relation to the groove of the block.

3. A connection unit as set forth in claim 2, wherein, the block comprises two mating sections each having a central boss, the inner complementary ends of said bosses defining the bottom of said groove for receiving the rib on the flange, the mating bosses of said sections provided with registering openings forming a pocket, said pocket receiving said weld to secure the block to the first member which is to be laterally adjusted relative to the flange and tongue connected with the second member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,970,965 Leake Aug. 21, 1934 2,211,586 Schwarz Aug. 13, 1940 2,624,429 Saxe Jan. 6, 1953 

